Seppuku (ritual suicide)

Ritual suicide was used by Samurai to keep themselves from falling into their enemies hands. They could also be order by their daiymo (lords) to commit seppuku. Many warriors also did it to regain honor. The most common form of seppuku for men was composed of the cutting of the abdomen, and when the samurai was finished, he stretched out his neck for someone else to decapitate him. Samurai could generally only commit suicide with permission.